About Ketter, Sheppard & Jackson, LLP

David Ketter and Ken Sheppard formed Simburg, Ketter, Haley, Sheppard and Purdy in 1984, along with Mel Simburg, George Purdy, and Jeff Haley.  That firm opened its doors in 1984 as one of the first tenants of Wells Fargo Center (then First Interstate Center) in downtown Seattle.  David Ketter maintained an established tax, trust and estates practice, and Ken Sheppard had returned to his native Seattle after serving as corporate counsel to the Arabian American Oil Company in New York, Houston, and Saudi Arabia, where he gained extensive business expertise.  With the Departure of Jeff Haley in 1989, the firm became Simburg, Ketter, Sheppard & Purdy ("SKSP"), adding Of Counsel attorneys Andy Shafer in 2007, and Jim Jackson in 2009.

Over the years SKSP developed a reputation as a high quality firm providing a wide range of business related services, and enjoyed the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory's highest "AV" rating, indicating "very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards" as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar.

SKSP experienced remarkable stability compared to many law practices of similar size. All but one of the founding partners remained with the firm until 2021, and the firm's offices were located in the same suite in downtown Seattle for over 37 years.  With the expiration of SKSP's most recent lease term on August 1, 2021, the SKSP partners and attorneys decided on several changes.

Mel Simburg transitioned to a full-time independent mediator and arbitrator, George Purdy decided to practice independently, and Jonathan Feil retired from the practice of law. David Ketter, Ken Sheppard, and Jim Jackson formed Ketter, Sheppard & Jackson, LLP, and Andy Shafer became Of Counsel to that new firm.  Support staff that had been with SKSP for many years have now also joined with KS&J.

The changing technology of the practice of law no longer requires that mainstream law firms be near the Seattle Courthouses and King County Law Library, or that they be near other law firms in the downtown Seattle core.  With the advent of online legal research, electronic court filings and hearings, and video conferencing, law firms can now choose locations that are more convenient for their clients and staff, as opposed to battling the traffic and other challenges facing a visit or commute to downtown Seattle.  So KS&J made the decision to relocate to Bellevue, where we now have free parking and easy access to the new light rail terminal.  

Most of the SKSP clients, many of whom had been with that firm from the beginning, have now transitioned to KS&J. We believe this is more than a coincidence - clients appreciate the ability to develop a long term, personal relationship with a partner who knows their business, and often their family as well, and in most cases the same KS&J partners are now continuing to serve these clients at the new firm. It's comforting for clients to know that "their" partner will be there when they need legal assistance.